Hybrid vehicle display apparatus and method

Abstract

A display apparatus for a hybrid drive vehicle includes a screen that depicts a first icon, a second icon, and a third icon to represent energy sources and energy destinations. The appearance of the screen is variable to indicate the flow of energy between energy sources and energy destinations. In a preferred embodiment, changes in color, changes in icon size, and movement of elements are used to indicate energy flow.

1. A display apparatus for a hybrid drive vehicle having a first energy source and a second energy source configured to selectively transmit energy to a motor/generator to propel the vehicle, the second energy source being configured to selectively transmit energy to the first energy source for storage, the display apparatus comprising:
 a screen configured to display a first icon representing the first energy source, a second icon representing the second energy source, and a third icon representing propulsion of the vehicle, wherein the first, second and third icons are spaced apart from one another; 
 wherein the display apparatus is operatively connectable to the vehicle such that the appearance of the screen is responsive to (a) the transmission of energy from the first energy source to propel the vehicle, (b) the transmission of energy from the second energy source to propel the vehicle, and (c) the transmission of energy from the second energy source to the first energy source without the transmission of energy from the second energy source to the first energy source being via the motor/generator. 
 
     
     
       2. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display apparatus is sufficiently configured such that
 a first portion of the screen displays a first color in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at a rate higher than a first predetermined rate; 
 the first portion of the screen does not display the first color in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below the first predetermined rate; 
 a second portion of the screen displays a second color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at a rate higher than a second predetermined rate; and 
 the second portion of the screen does not display the second color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below the second predetermined rate. 
 
     
     
       3. The display apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first color is different from the second color, and wherein at least a portion of the first icon is the first color, and wherein at least a portion of the second icon is the second color. 
     
     
       4. The display of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion is between the first icon and the third icon, and the second portion is between the second icon and the third icon. 
     
     
       5. The display apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle is configured for regenerative braking whereby the kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted and transmitted to the first energy source for storage; wherein the display apparatus is sufficiently configured such that a third portion of the screen displays a third color in response to energy from regenerative braking being transmitted to the first energy source above a third predetermined rate; and wherein the third portion does not display the third color in response to energy from regenerative braking being transmitted to the first energy source at or below the third predetermined rate. 
     
     
       6. The display apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the third portion is between the third icon and the first icon. 
     
     
       7. The display apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the third color is different from the first color and the second color. 
     
     
       8. The display apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the third portion is at least partially coextensive with the third icon. 
     
     
       9. The display apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a third portion of the screen displays a third color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to the first energy source above a third predetermined rate; and wherein the third portion does not display the third color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to the first energy source at or below the third predetermined rate. 
     
     
       10. The display apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the third color is the same as the second color, and wherein the third portion is between the second icon and the first icon. 
     
     
       11. The display apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion is at least partially coextensive with the third icon, and wherein the second portion is at least partially coextensive with the third icon. 
     
     
       12. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display apparatus is sufficiently configured such that the first icon is a first size in response to the first electrical energy source transmitting energy at or below a first predetermined rate to propel the vehicle, and a second size different from the first size in response to the first electrical energy source transmitting energy above the first predetermined rate to propel the vehicle; and wherein the second icon is a third size in response to the second electrical energy source transmitting energy at or below a second predetermined rate to propel the vehicle, and a fourth size different from the third size in response to the second electrical energy source transmitting energy above the second predetermined rate to propel the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display apparatus is sufficiently configured such that the screen displays
 a first set of at least one visual element animated to simulate movement away from the first icon and toward the third icon in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle above a first predetermined rate, 
 a second set of at least one visual element animated to simulate movement away from the second icon toward the third icon in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle above a second predetermined rate, and 
 a third set of at least one visual element animated to simulate movement away from the second icon toward the first icon in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to the first energy source above a third predetermined rate. 
 
     
     
       14. A method of indicating the flow of energy among components in a hybrid drive vehicle having a first energy source and a second energy source configured to selectively transmit energy to a motor/generator to propel the vehicle, the second source being configured to selectively transmit energy to the first energy source for storage, the method comprising:
 changing the appearance of a display screen in response to (a) the transmission of energy from the first energy source to propel the vehicle, (b) the transmission of energy from the second energy source to propel the vehicle, and (c) the transmission of energy from the second energy source to the first energy source without the transmitted energy being via the motor/generator; wherein the display depicts a first icon representing the first energy source, a second icon representing the second energy source, and a third icon representing propulsion of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said changing the appearance of the display includes
 causing a first portion of the screen to display a first color in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at a rate higher than a first predetermined rate; 
 causing the first portion of the screen not to display the first color in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below the first predetermined rate; 
 causing a second portion of the screen to display a second color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at a rate higher than a second predetermined rate; and 
 causing the second portion of the screen not to display the second color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below the second predetermined rate. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said changing the appearance of the display further includes causing a third portion of the screen to display a third color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to the first energy source above a third predetermined rate; and causing the third portion of the screen not to display the third color in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to the first energy source at or below the third predetermined rate. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially coextensive with the third icon. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said changing the appearance of the screen includes causing the screen to display the first icon in a first size in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below a first predetermined rate; causing the screen to display the first icon in a second size larger than the first size in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle above the first predetermined rate; causing the screen to display the second icon in a third size in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below a second predetermined rate; and causing the screen to display the second icon in a fourth size larger than the third size in response to the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle above the second predetermined rate. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein changing the appearance of the screen includes causing the screen to display animated visual elements in response to the first energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle above a first predetermined rate, or the second energy source transmitting energy to propel the vehicle above a second predetermined rate. 
     
     
       20. A vehicle comprising
 a motor/generator, a battery, and a fuel cell; the battery and the fuel cell being configured to selectively transmit energy to the motor/generator to propel the vehicle; 
 a display apparatus including a screen configured to depict a first icon representing the battery and displaying a first color, a second icon representing the fuel cell displaying a second color different from the first color, and a third icon representing the propulsion of the vehicle; 
 wherein the display apparatus is sufficiently configured such that 
 a first portion of the third icon displays the first color and the first icon is depicted in a first size in response to the battery transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at a rate higher than a first predetermined rate; 
 the first portion of the third icon does not display the first color and the first icon is depicted in a second size different from the first size in response to the battery transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below the first predetermined rate; 
 a second portion of the third icon displays the second color and the second icon is a third size in response to the fuel cell transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at a rate higher than a second predetermined rate; 
 the second portion of the third icon does not display the second color and the second icon is a fourth size different from the third size in response to the fuel cell transmitting energy to propel the vehicle at or below the second predetermined rate; and 
 a third portion of the screen displays the second color in response to the fuel cell source transmitting energy directly to the battery above a third predetermined rate; and wherein the third portion does not display the second color in response to the fuel cell transmitting energy to the battery at or below the third predetermined rate.